Gets the blood pumping, then stops your heart just as you are starting to enjoy yourself...
After a very long wait and delay after delay along came the sequel aptly titled Half-Life 2. In fact it was released one month shy of 6 years since the original was released and things had really changed, in terms of technology and in terms of story. Half-Life 2 was an excellent game that brought story telling to a new level with charming characters and flawless voice sync. The only problem was the story wasn’t really that good and you never really figure out anything as you play through the game which was in the eyes of many it’s biggest drawback.
Almost 2 years later and into the present, Half-Life 2: Episode One arrives. In fairness if this was their plan all along I like it. The latest addition fills in a lot of the story gaps that you may have found with Half-Life 2 and at the same time opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You quickly learn exactly what is going on and why events of the last game were taking place although all the questions posed are still not answered and the G-Man will still be just as much a mystery for many Episodes to come.
Interaction with Alyx puts you on a whole new playing field giving you the feeling you got in the original when your trusty side kick Barney would follow you around spouting funny comments and observations along the way. Alyx however also interacts with you and is completely necessary to your progression in the game; she’ll even prompt you to danger allowing you to escape just in time which really adds to the feel and suspense of the moment.
Basically this is the same old Half-Life 2 with very few new additions, the game is too short at only 6 hrs of game time for an average player and you still wish the could have developed the story a little further. However the additions they did make and as much of the story as they do tell is compelling and very much a taster of things to come and when it tastes this good, you can only look forward to Episode 2.